Before You Accuse Me
Bo Diddley Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Before you accuse me
Take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me
Take a look at yourself
You say I been spending my money on other women
But you been runnin' around with somebody else

I called your mama
'Bout three or four nights ago
I called your mama
'Bout three or four nights ago
Well, your mother said, son
Don't call my daughter no more

Before you accuse me
Take a look at yourself
Before you accuse me
Take a look at yourself
Well now, you say I been runnin' around
But you got somebody else

Come on back home, baby
Try my love one more time
Come on back home, baby
Try my love one more time
Well now you've been gone away so long
I'm gonna lose my mind

Before you accuse me
Take a look at yourself
Well, before you accuse me
Take a look at yourself




Well now, you say I been buyin' other women clothes
You been takin money from somebody else

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Bo Diddley's "Before You Accuse Me" are a message to a lover who is accusing the singer of infidelity. The singer advises the lover to examine themselves first, because while they accuse the singer of spending money on other women, they themselves have been cheating with someone else. The singer even goes so far as to call the lover's mother to verify that they have been unfaithful. Despite this, the singer invites the lover to come back and try their love one more time, as they have been gone for so long that the singer is at risk of losing their mind. The song ends with the recurring advice to take a look at oneself before leveling accusations.


The lyrics of "Before You Accuse Me" reflect the gender dynamics of the time in which the song was produced, when it was more common for men to have multiple partners while expecting women to remain faithful. However, even within this context, the song stands out for its reversal of typical gender roles: the singer is male and is the one being accused, while the lover is female and is the one who cheated. This speaks to Bo Diddley's willingness to challenge traditional expectations and to his unique perspective as a Black man making music in a segregated society.


Line by Line Meaning

Before you accuse me
Think about your own actions before blaming me


Take a look at yourself
Reflect on your own behavior and choices


Before you accuse me
Think about your own actions before blaming me


Take a look at yourself
Reflect on your own behavior and choices


You say I been spending my money on other women
You accuse me of infidelity and financial impropriety


But you been runnin' around with somebody else
But you have been unfaithful and cheating on me


I called your mama
I reached out to your mother for help


'Bout three or four nights ago
A few nights ago, I contacted your mother


Well, your mother said, son
Your mother told me


Don't call my daughter no more
To stop calling you or bothering you


Well now, you say I been runnin' around
You continue to accuse me of infidelity


But you got somebody else
But you are also seeing other people


Come on back home, baby
Please come back to me


Try my love one more time
Let me show you my love again


Well now you've been gone away so long
Your absence has been prolonged


I'm gonna lose my mind
I feel like I'm going crazy without you


Well, before you accuse me
Think about your own actions before blaming me


Take a look at yourself
Reflect on your own behavior and choices


Well, before you accuse me
Think about your own actions before blaming me


Take a look at yourself
Reflect on your own behavior and choices


Well now, you say I been buyin' other women clothes
You accuse me of buying clothes for other women


You been takin money from somebody else
But you have been taking money from someone else




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Ellas McDaniel

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Comments from YouTube:

@davidsprague7747

I met him in 1972 at the nesadel club in Pasadena Texas I was the only customer in the place had some drinks with him and he said you are going to get a great show. And he played an entire show for me and didn't hold back at all
Best show I've ever seen before or since

@luissampaio2104

Man, you're so lucky!!

@bartenationalbart-email-na3284

that is awesome,

@ProArtist-li5ef

One of the very first blues-based songs I picked-out on my guitar back around 1957. His first Ed Sullivan performance was an absolute smash...vibrato was put on the map by BoDIddley.

@64kraut

I saw him in 1962 in Houston. My second concert ever. Ray Charles was my first.

@jehovahuponyou

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN RAY CHARLES AGAIN!

LOL :^)

@nikocyphert8598

I’m jealous I’ve never heard of this guy till now but sweet jebus he’s good

@MrDickycampilongo

I SAW RAY CHARLES IN 1969

@RBerube76

That's cool!

@t4texastom587

Al W

THAT had to have been
A W S O M E!!

I saw him exactly 10 years later in Houston Texas. What an awesome performer he was.🎸

2 More Replies...
More Comments

More Versions